United Suicide Survivors International Webinars
United Suicide Survivors International works to empower people to take action to create personal, interpersonal, systems, policy and cultural change. United Survivors (US) webinars bring together survivors and industries to share best practices and raise awareness about the needs of people, populations and communities. Live webinars generally take place quarterly in February, May, August and November, and are held at 5:30MST/7:30EST. We invite you to join us for a live webinar or browse our previous recordings below.
May 7, 2025 @ 5:30pm MST/7:30pm EST
Guest Presenters: Impacted Survivors of Murder-Suicide
June 4, 2025 @ 5:30 MST/7:30 EST
Guest Presenters: Lyseria Kursave, Pride at Work
PLEASE NOTE, THIS WEBINAR HAS BEEN POSTPONED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED SOON.
Advocacy
August 2017 – “Change for Change Agents” presented by Eduardo Vega. United Suicide Survivors International welcomes Eduardo Vega to talk about “Change for Change Agents” and how to bring the voice of lived experience into their organizations and understand the mechanics of transformational change.
September 2019 – “We’ve Been Too Patient: Lessons Learned from Radical Perspectives,” by Kelechi Ubozoh
September 2020 – “Standing in Solidarity: The Voices of Lived Experience” with Ted Figlock, Cheryl Micoch, Vanessa McGann and Matt Runnalls
August 2022 – “Straight from the Source: Engaging Our Media Partners in Suicide Prevention” with award-winning journalists Rhitu Chatterjee, Aneri Pattani and Jessie Cohen
March 2023 – “Advancing Suicide Prevention through Advocacy: Stories, Tips, Ideas & Inspiration to Make an Impact”
August 2022 – “Straight from the Source: Engaging Our Media Partners in Suicide Prevention” with award-winning journalists Rhitu Chatterjee, Aneri Pattani and Jessie Cohen
People & Communities
February 2018 – “Youth Advocacy and Resiliency in the LGBTQ Communities: Insights from the Trevor Project”. Chris Bright of the Trevor Project presents on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Youth serving professionals will learn hands on techniques for supporting LGBTQ young people. This workshop combines research, case studies, best practice recommendations, and practical steps for reducing the risk of suicide and promoting resiliency in all young people with an emphasis on education and support for Trans/GNC young people.
June 2018 – June is Men’s Health Month, and this webinar helps to bring mental well-being into the overall health conversation by giving men tools for resilience during and after the transition of divorce.
December 2018 – “Clinicians and Suicide Loss: What We Know and What We Can Do” presented by Dr. Nina Gutin
February 2019 – “Children Who Grieve: How Suicide Impacts Children” presented by Karen Moyer and Sebastian Slovin
June 2019 – “Firefighters and Resilience, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention” presented by Assistant Chief Nate Stoermer
February 2019 – “Children Who Grieve: How Suicide Impacts Children” presented by Karen Moyer and Sebastian Slovin
February 2020 – Social Justice, Racial Equity & Suicide Prevention with Dr. Pata Suyemoto and Jennifer Kelliher
April 2020 – Social Justice, Racial Equity & Suicide Prevention with Dr. Pata Suyemoto and Jennifer Kelliher
October 2020 – “Young People Share DBT Skills: Real Stories of Surviving and Coping through Suicidal Crises” and Ursula Whiteside and the NMN Ambassadors
February 2021 – “Thriving Beyond Surviving: Mental Resilience in the Black Community” With Vic Armstrong, Fonda Bryant, and Rwenshaun Miller
January 2021 – “Indigenous Approaches to Upstream Suicide Prevention: A Global Panel” With Kim Senklip-Harvey, Leilani Darwin, and Shelby Rowe
March 2021 – “Warrior Care: The Fight After the Battle” With MG (ret.) Mark Graham, MSG (ret.) Chris Jachimiec, Dr. Justin Baker, and Wendy Lasko
July 2021 – Strength, Resilience, & Growth: The Power Within BIPOC & Experiences with Mental Health with Vic Armstrong, Philip Cooper, Doug Middleton
August 2021 – How Much is Enough? Lessons Learned on Mental Health from Elite Athletes with Tish Guerin, Jay Harrison, Breezy Johnson, Dr. William Parham
October 2021 – Adoption and Suicide Prevention: Adult Adoptees Speak Out with Jessenia Parmer, Amanda Transue-Woolston, Kevin Barhydt, and Lynelle Long
August 2021 – How Much is Enough? Lessons Learned on Mental Health from Elite Athletes with Tish Guerin, Jay Harrison, Breezy Johnson, Dr. William Parham
January 2022 – “Promoción de la Salud Mental y Prevención del Suicidio en Comunidades Latines/x: Consideraciones Claves” con Ysabel Garcia, Diana Cortez Yanez y Eduardo Vega (our first webinar in Spanish on promoting mental health and suicide prevention in Latine/x communities)
April 2022 (1 of 2) – “Repair & Overhaul After a Breakdown: Stories & Tips from the Men of the New Guts, Grit & The Grind Book” with Dr. John Draper, Rob England, Chip Roberts, Eduardo Vega and Cam Stout
April 2022 (2 of 2) – “Repair & Overhaul After a Breakdown: Stories & Tips from First Responders & Active Military/Veterans in the new Guts, Grit & The Grind book” with Retired Police Lieutenant John Coppedge, Retired First Sergeant Tom Cruz, Chief Nate Stoermer, and Lieutenant Juan Vigil
May 2022 – “Formando Conexiones entre Individuos, Familias y Profesionales en la Prevencion del Suicidio” con Dr. Quetzalcóatl Hernández Cervantes, Dr. Jonathan Singer, and Diana Cortez Yanez (our second webinar in Spanish)
January 2022 – “Promoción de la Salud Mental y Prevención del Suicidio en Comunidades Latines/x: Consideraciones Claves” con Ysabel Garcia, Diana Cortez Yanez y Eduardo Vega (our first webinar in Spanish on promoting mental health and suicide prevention in Latine/x communities)
August 2021 – How Much is Enough? Lessons Learned on Mental Health from Elite Athletes with Tish Guerin, Jay Harrison, Breezy Johnson, Dr. William Parham
May 2025 - “Impacted Survivors of Murder Suicide,” presented by Tina Chavelier, Michael Vinton, and Kristina Caravello Faulkner
Research & Tools
May 2017 – “Appreciative Inquiry of People with Lived Experience with Suicide (Loss, Attempts, Thoughts/Feelings, Allies)” by Sally Spencer-Thomas, Eduardo Vega, and Ursula Whiteside. Learn more about United Suicide Survivors International and hear others input into our movement.
October 2017 – “Responding to Grief, Trauma, and Distress After a Suicide: A Look at the National Guidelines” presented by Franklin Cook and Joanne Harpel
March 2018 – “Suicide and Firearms: What Do We Know and What Can We Do?” presented by Clint and Joanie Malarchuk and Dr. Michael Anestis. A growing body of research shows the role of firearms in suicide and that a cultural shift towards suicide-specific safe gun ownership can reduce suicide deaths. Dr. Michael Anestis shares his research and findings in leveraging common ground in the pursuit of lower suicide rates. Clint Malarchuk, along with his wife Joanie, share his story of surviving his suicide attempt with a firearm and what steps can be taken at the individual and family level to reduce suicide with firearms. We advise caution as you listen to this webinar and if you are in need of support we encourage you to reach out to the National Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or through the Crisis Text Line by texting START to 741741.
March 2018 – “The Art and Science of Storytelling in Suicide Prevention” presented by Dr. Sally Spencer-Thomas. When we are able to inspire others with our stories of recovery from suicidal despair or suicide grief, we give them hope. And hope is the antidote to suicide. This webinar provides an introduction on how to tell one’s story of suicide despair and/or suicide grief. We will cover a brief overview of the “art and science” of the process including why storytelling is important to the storyteller as well as the audience, safe and effective messaging, and the craft of creating a compelling and inspiring narrative.
July 2018 – “Dignity of Choice: Care and Compassion During Mental Health Crises” presented by Rudy Caseres. Too often individuals experiencing suicidal crisis are not provided with the care and compassion appropriate to their situation. Hospitalization is not always the most optimal solution. Due to conventional and long held beliefs this is most frequently seen as the only option. Survivors are being given more opportunity and to provide alternative actions in regards to crisis response. Using these personal experiences to guide support, people who are experiencing crisis can maintain dignity, choice and control over what happens to them.
October 2018 – “The Heart of A Suicide Intervention: the Research and Story of CAMS” presented by David Jobes, Ph.D.
“Clinical Assessment and Treatment of Suicidal Risk: A Critique of Contemporary Care and CAMS as a Possible Remedy“ (PDF, 151 KB)
“A novel engagement of suicidality in the emergency department: Virtual Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality“ (PDF, 1.24 MB)
“A Stepped Care Approach to Clinical Suicide Prevention“ (PDF, 10.4 MB)
November 2018 – “Addressing Death with Dignity/Physician Assisted Suicide” presented by Ken Norton, LCSW
March 2019 – “You Can’t Unring a Bell,” presented by Heidi Bryan
August 2019 – “What Could Lived Experience Look Like in Healthcare?” presented by Bart Andrews, PhD
May 2020 – “Lived Experience Meets Research” with Jacinta Hawgood and Bronwen Edwards
August 2020 – “Suicide Prevention: The Evidence Base, Lived Experience, and the Journey to Clinical Readiness” With Ted Bonar
November 2020 – “Liability Issues in Suicide Care: A Lawyer Informed by Lived Expertise” with Skip Simpson
June 2021 – First Responders and Suicide Response: Better Understanding, Better Outcomes with Sergeant Kevin Briggs, Det. Jason Klaus, Assist. Chief Manny Almaguer, Dr. Chris Caulkins
May 2021 – 988 What to Expect From the Three Digit Lifeline with John Draper, David Covington, Margie Balfour, Lisa St George
April 2024 – Investigator and lived experience advisors of the research study, CSO:OPIOIDs: "Clinical Context of Suicide Following Opioid Transitions"
Self-Care & Support
December 2017 – “Let Their Voices Be Heard: How Family and Friends of People Living Through Suicide Crises are Allies” presented by Annemarie Matulis and Marcia Epstein. With over 11 million individuals having experienced suicidal thoughts, feelings, or attempts you can only imagine the number of caring family-friends who are also impacted. Learn more about available and needed self-care and educational resources for family-friends, in ongoing relationship, of people living with suicide thoughts and attempts; the benefits of including these family-friends in all aspects of suicide prevention; and ways to increase the involvement in the national suicide prevention community of these family-friends.
November 2017 – “Everyone Needs a Crisis Plan: Planning for the Worst while Thriving Forward” presented by Dr. Ursula Whiteside. As suicide survivors become suicide prevention change agents and suicide grief support advocates, self-care is paramount. Preparing for the hard work of disclosing our stories, facing discrimination and prejudice and doing the on-going work of maintaining our wellness all requires a strong skill set. Sometimes, despite our best efforts in resilience, a mental health crisis can re-emerge. Thus, we need a crisis plan in place BEFORE the crisis strikes.
August 2018 – “DOGS: A Medication without Side Effects” presented by Matthew Decker
September 2018 – “When the Professional is Personal: Lessons from Lived Experience of Suicidality & Helping the Suicidal Person” presented by Stacey Freedenthal, PhD, LCSW
January 2018 – “Cultivating your Unconquerable Spirit: Nurturing Personal Growth and Strength after a Suicide Attempt” presented by Shelby Rowe. Shelby Rowe intertwines evidence-based suicide prevention best practices with her own experience. She walks us through her journey to recovery, shares the post traumatic growth that’s taken place, and shares her 6 steps to cultivating resiliency.
May 2018 – “The Missing Peace: Making Meaning of the Pain from the Past” presented by Cheryl Sharp. The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study (ACEs) shows a strong correlation between what has happened in childhood and the increase in suicide attempts later in life. While the correlation is strong, ACEs are not destiny. This webinar explores how our past impacts our present as well as how we can learn to move beyond that pain. The potential paths to hope and healing create opportunities to make meaning of our pain and move towards a life out of the darkness.
January 2019 – Turning it Around: From Preventing Suicide to Personal Growth” presented by Dr. Dequincy “Quix” Lezine
May 2019 – “Live, Learn, and Grow,” presented by Craig Miller, Author
October 2019 – “Beyond the Brain: Soul Exhaustion and Suicide Prevention,” by Sarah Gaer
December 2020 – “A Fireside Chat: Making Meaning after Suicide Loss” with Sam Webb
November 2020 – “The Role of a Counselor” With Rosie Bauder
September 2021 – When it’s Darkest: Making Sense of Suicide with Professor Rory O’Connor
April 2021 – “Eye of the Survivor: Your Hero’s Journey of Surviving Suicide” with Sally Spencer-Thomas, Ursula Whiteside, and Leilani Darwin
December 2021 – “The ‘Suicidal Risk’ Stigma and Seeking SUD Treatment” with Dr. Marlon Rollins
March 2022 – “Reclaim Your Moxie:™ Role of Peer Support in Health, Wellness & Addiction Recovery in the Workplace” with Dana Piscopo, CPRC, CFAA, CSRC, MVLCE
February 2022 – “Life Saving Knowledge: How Stress Response and Trauma Relate to Suicide” with Joanna Bridger, LICSW, Dr. Ursula Whiteside, and Sarah Gaer, MA
January 2024 – “WRAP® for LIFE: A personalized, Peer-based, Infinitely-Doable Suicide Prevention Tool”
February 2022 – “Life Saving Knowledge: How Stress Response and Trauma Relate to Suicide” with Joanna Bridger, LICSW, Dr. Ursula Whiteside, and Sarah Gaer, MA
February 2025 - “Magic In the Mess,” presented by Author and Advocate, Molly Booker
Workplace Suicide Prevention
October 2019 – “Launching the National Guidelines for Workplace Suicide Prevention”
November 2021 – Suicide Loss in the Workplace: What You Need to Know and How to Help with Dr. Doreen Marshall
